Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat maintains that Kenya is on the right path despite Sunday’s embarrassing defeat to Mauritius in a friendly match played in Mauritius.Kenya went down 1-0 to the nation ranked 180th by FIFA, 78 places below Kenya, in what was a new low for Kenyan football. This came days after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Pakistan.##NAJAVA_MECA_7324347##Harambee Stars looked out of sorts for the better part of the game and struggled to create chances before going down to a goal that was down to goalkeeping and defensive errors. Kenya finished third in the four-team tournament.Firat, however, remains defiant despite the criticism that he has faced since yesterday. He says the goal of the tournament was not to pick winners but to evaluate his team and give new players a chance.”The purpose of the camp was not only to secure victories but also to explore new players, different positions, and alternative team formations. There are areas that need improvement to ensure a smoother journey ahead. We learned more about our strengths, weaknesses, and potential solutions for the future,” he said.Kenyan FootballShida Harambee Stars ni nini?#WaksTikiTaka @AQtee @ShattaTikiTaka @johnkyanda @zitahjimoi pic.twitter.com/nK3onwKNjS— Radio Citizen (@RadioCitizenFM) June 19, 2023 He added that he is out to build a team for the future and is more focused on long-term success.”My primary objective is to identify players who can contribute significantly to Kenya’s success in the future. We aim to try out players who are eligible to play for us. We are here to see which players will help us in the long run and who will step up when given the opportunity.”Despite the embarrassing defeat, he says the team is improving and is focused on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers that begin later this year.”We are improving by the day, and I believe with more tournaments of this nature, we shall be able to prepare well for the qualifiers that will begin in September.”Kenya youngster excited at the prospect of facing Lionel Messi
